Soft Cell, Tainted Love | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 14th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we highlight “Tainted Love” performed by English synthpop duo Soft Cell. 

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the 14^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we dive into “Tainted Love”, the one-hit wonder by Soft Cell.

“Sometimes I feel I’ve got to / Run away I’ve got to / Get away / From the pain you drive into the heart of me.” Oh, wow! That is deep! Tainted! English synth-pop duo Soft Cell, comprised of Marc Almond (1957 – ) and David Ball (1959 – ), scored a mega-hit with “Tainted Love”. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.  Notably, the second track from their 1981 album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, is the sole song that charted on the Billboard Hot 100.  That means, yes, Soft Cell are one-hit wonders.  Also, their one hit is a cover.  It was originally released by Gloria Jones in 1965 🤯. However, Soft Cell’s version is the definitive take, PERIOD. Ed Cobb penned this gem while Mike Thorne produced it.

So, what makes “Tainted Love” ‘the cat’s meow?’ The sound of the record is DEFINITELY a big deal.  The electronic sound palette sounds like the 1980s through and through.  At the same time, listening to “Tainted Love” in the 2020s, the aesthetic and vibe remains lit.  The synths have their way with the riffs shining.  Also, the groove ‘grooves hard.’  Yes, it is quintessential 80s but the charm is… charming! Also, charming are the smooth vocals by Marc Almond.  The man eats in all of his androgynous glory! The love is tainted to the nth degree as Almond tries to run away from it.  In the second verse, he sings, “And you think love is to pray / But I’m sorry, I don’t pray that way.” That is a mic-drop moment! Of course, the biggest mic-drop moment is the chorus where the love is tainted, tainted, tainted!

“Once I ran to you (I ran)

Now, I’ll run from you

This tainted love you’ve given

I give you all a boy could give you

Take my tears and that’s not nearly all

Oh, tainted love

Tainted love.”

Ooh-wee, Marc! A brief synth-pop, New Wave joint, “Tainted Love” in the hands of Soft Cell remains C-L-A-S-S-I-C.  Yes, the duo was a one-hit wonder stateside, but, who wouldn’t want a hit the caliber of this one?! Notably, Rihanna sampled this classic on her 2005 pop hit, “SOS.”.

Soft Cell // Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret // Mercury // 1981

Soft Cell, Tainted Love: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 14 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Mercury; Antoni Shkraba, KoolShooters, Pavel Danilyuk, Photo By: Kaboompics.com, RDNE Stock project from Pexels; AcatXIo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]